2012 Summer Camp Program

Final Report
Muskoka Community Services
“Whoever helped fund my son to go to camp – please pass
on a huge thank you. I know that over there you wouldn’t
understand or know, but it makes such a huge difference in
our life. It is just me and him and this makes his summer,
you have no idea! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!”
Marketing
Program kick-off January 2012

Brochures printed and distributed to:
• Ontario Works clients with children
• Child Care Fee Subsidy families (with annual household income under $42,000)
• Social Housing units
• Case Managers
• Ontario Works Employments offices

Promoted through the Trillium Lakelands District School Board
Community Breakfast

Featured on Community Information Muskoka website
• Feature page at advertised URL
• Rotation banner on main page
Marketing

Email campaign to:
• Community Living Huntsville
• Community Living South Muskoka
• Family Youth and Child Services
• Muskoka Family Focus
• Muskoka Interval House
• One Kids Place
• HANDS
• TLDSB Elementary School Principals
• Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit
• Muskoka Interval House and Chrysalis

Ongoing Marketing:
• May/June reminder phone calls to Ontario Works families
• Staff reminders in The MCS BLAST staff newsletter
Dollar and Child Stats by Year

Children who attended Summer Camp in 2012: 227

Children who attended Summer Camp in 2011: 193

Dollars spent on Summer Camp Program in 2012: $107,204.66

Dollars spent on Summer Camp Program in 2011: $95,933.65

Average Per Child 2012: $472.26

Average Per Child 2011: $496.06
Children Who attended Camp in 2012: 227
(193 children attended in 2011)
Children by Program Area 2012
child could belong to more than one category (e.g. OW and Social Housing)
Camp Stats 2012

Overnight: 100 children attended overnight camps

Day camps: 124 children attended day camps

Unknown: 3 children were funded through agency partners

Total number of camps accessed: 43

Number of camps located in Muskoka: 31

Number of camps located outside Muskoka:12

Camp outside of Muskoka:

• 10 families and 16 campers chose camps outside of Muskoka
o 7 camps located in areas that bordered Muskoka where families lived close by
o 4 camps catered to children with special physical or behavioural needs
o 1 camp was a high level sports camp
o 3 camps involved special family circumstances
Most Accessed Camps in Muskoka
Other Camps Accessed In Muskoka

Arrowhead

Camp Wenonah

Back Country Paintball

Beacon Bible Camp

Town of Huntsville

Just 4 Kicks Dance Camp

Muskoka Woods

Science North Satellite Camp in Huntsville

Muskoka Limberettes Gymnastic Camp

Olympia Sports Camp

Muskoka Youth for Christ Kids Maxx

Paddlefoot

Camp Huronda

Camp Big Canoe

Deerhurst Adventure Day Camp

Powerstride Hockey Camp
Camps Accessed Outside Muskoka

Washago Community Centre Day Camp in Washago

Children in Motion Day Camp in Orillia

Circle Square Ranch Bible Camp in Orillia

OEC Day Camp in Wiarton

Medicine Horse Youth Program in Midland

Can Am High Level Hockey Training in Welland

Camp Kitchikewana in Rama

Bob Rumball Camp for the Deaf in Parry Sound

Circle R Ranch in Delaware

Easter Seals Woodend in London

Kinark Autism Camp in Minden

Hidden Bay Leadership Camp in Nobel
Success Factors 2012

Launching the program earlier in the year so families had more time to plan their
summer.

Connecting with camps earlier in the year to create a smoother admin process and to
secure volume discounts.

Phone calls to Ontario Works families in June helped to eliminate several barriers:
• Reminded families to take advantage of the program
• Made families realize the process was easy
• Helped connect families with camps that interested their child(ren) and were close to home (day
camps require transportation)
• Helped families find transportation or support for transportation
• Helped families access summer camp supplies as needed

Having other community partners to refer families to once funding for overnight
camp was at the limit:
• Referred families to the Child Care Fee Subsidy program
• Referred families to the OPP for summer camp grant program
• Referred families to the United Church summer camp grant program for low income
families
Program Evaluation 2012

Surveys packages to families: 147 (14 returned by Canada Post)
• 1 child survey per camper in family unit (with incentive to win a free $25 gift card)
• 1 parent survey per child (with incentive to win a free week of camp for summer 2013)

2012 Response Rate: 31%

2011 Response Rate: 45%

2012 First time campers: 52%

2011 First time campers: 60%

2012 Would not have sent child to camp without MCS funding: 92%

2011 Would not have sent child to camp without MCS funding: 89%

2012 Camp was a positive experience for child: 98%

2011 Camp was a positive experience for child: 99%

2012 Family would send child to summer camp again: 100%

2011 Family would send child to summer camp again:100%
 Sample
Child
Survey

I loved the clay pits,

special theme days,
dance, kayak and going to
Dead Man’s Island was
fun. I really like playing
tether ball. Tuck was fun.
Child Feedback about
Summer Camp Experience
• For me the best thing about summer camp was:
– Everything. First time horse back riding, aerial park was great. I loved everything. Thank
you. Without your help, my mom wouldn’t have been able to send me. Thank you.
– Yolo and the dance party. I really enjoyed swimming also! Also enjoyed the food, water
games, songs, campfires and many others. Yet, I do wish there was more time for me to
read my book.
– I really liked the food, learning new songs, dancing and the games.
– Archery, singing and the food!
– Having fun and doing the activities you choose.
– Canoeing, swimming, campfire.
– Horseback riding.
– Archery, friends, canoeing, staying overnight, telling jokes.
– Playing sleeping lions.
– Meeting new friends, learning about different reptiles and learning more French.
– Meeting new friends, having fun and playing on the playground, and gymnastics equipment.
Learning new games, and playing old ones.
Child Feedback about
Summer Camp Experience
• For me the best thing about summer camp was:
– Swimming was the best!
– I loved the water sports and the singing songs. I love to sing songs.
– Horse back riding and low ropes and Wednesdays.
– Swimming in the pool and doing gymnastics.
– Toys and the crafts.
– Going to the beach.
– Making new friends and learning new things.
– Making new friends.
– Biking through the woods and jumping in the clay pits.
– There was a lot of great things like swimming and biking and much much more.
– For me the best thing about summer camp was that I tried new things and everyone
encouraged me too. I would love to go again!! ☺
– Cliff jumping. Last year I wasn’t brave enough.
– Having fun and meeting friends. I also enjoyed learning more about basketball and
getting an award for most improved player. Thank you!
Child Feedback about
Summer Camp Experience
• For me the best thing about summer camp was:
– I learned how to windsurf!
– Dance class. I learned a lot and want to do it again please.
– Everything!
– Fireworks because they went for a long time and also because I went to camp on the first of
July I didn’t get to have fireworks at home. I also liked the food as it was sooper good.
Thanks for sending me.
– Riding a horse alone.
– My camp counselors.
– We got to go swimming.
– I liked everything about camp especially swimming.
– Meeting new people from all over Canada and other places.
– Splash zone, banana boat rides, paintball targets, horses, rock climbing. Making new
friends.
– Sailing!
– Being able to experience it.
Parent Feedback about
Summer Camp Experience
• For my child the best thing about summer camp was:
– It helped her open up and become more outgoing. Not so shy. She tried new things even
though she is very afraid of heights.
– She tried archery, which is something she’s been wanting to do for a long time
– We cannot thank you enough for all of your help. Without it, my daughter wouldn’t have
been able to go to camp. This means so much. I wish I could say more than thank you.
– She went horseback riding and tried new things.
– She loved new songs and trying new things.
– My daughter learned to ride a horse. She loved it.
– New experiences and new friends.
– All the new experiences. They had so much fun.
– He was happy, interested and involved!
– That he made new friends and had new experiences. It was good but hard for him to leave
me (mom). Everyone involved in helping him go to camp was great – the process was
relaxing and stress free. Thank you so much! ☺
– The opportunity to try new activities we wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.
Parent Feedback about
Summer Camp Experience
• For my child the best thing about summer camp was:
– Experiencing new rules, making new friends, staying overnight. Very excellent program.
– Swimming every day at the pool.
– Opportunity! To discover new strengths, improve skills, fitness, resiliency, make new
friends. Thank you to the very helpful District staff.
– Meeting other children from all walks of life and forming relationships.
– Having positive role models and forming new friendships away from home.
– The experience and social aspects.
– I saved all year to send him to camp so this helped him go for two weeks. The best part for
him was being outdoors but he will have to attend an autism camp next year.
– He loved swimming and being outdoors.
– Doing activities and being social.
– He got to go have some fun.
– Interacting with others and doing crafts.
– She came back feeling better about herself.
Parent Feedback about
Summer Camp Experience
• For my child the best thing about summer camp was:
– Social interaction in a positive setting and getting lots of physical activity.
– All the crafts and art activities and day trips.
– Theme days and beach days (we have no car) and socializing.
– Learning new things and developing new relationships. This is an excellent program and
we are very grateful. Thank you.
– To be active and outdoors playing with kids her age in a structured environment.
– The variety of activities, especially swimming.
– Making new friends from all over the world.
– My son liked the variety of programs, especially biking.
– Getting away, meeting friends, playing sports.
– My daughter loved theme days and trying new things like the clay pit.
– My daughter had an amazing experience and would do it again. Thank you for helping me
give my child great memories
– The camp experience that I could not provide for him. He loved it! Thank you for the
opportunity, it was greatly appreciated.
Parent Feedback about
Summer Camp Experience
• For my child the best thing about summer camp was:
– Growing confidence and learning new things. It was amazing thank you for all the help.
– She got to interact with new people and get a break from mom that she needs.
– Meeting lots of kids, all the activities.
– This was her second year and she loved all of it. Thank you for the opportunity. So grateful.
– He loved the sailing and can’t wait to go back.
– He became so much more independent at decision making and more expressive with his
thoughts. Thanks for giving my kids this amazing opportunity.
– He learned so many new things and social skills. I am impressed. It was more than we
expected.
– The opportunity to go horseback riding. We are very pleased with how the program helps
us and many others.
– The experience of meeting like-minded children within her own age group and the
educational value was unbeatable. Thank you.
– Being able to go and have a fantastic time like his peers, even though Mom had no money.
A friend was there and they all had the best week! And it was just a ‘day’ camp!